Page 50 of Shielding Lexi (Temptation)

“This is me,” I say, standing near the door at the end of the hallway next to a grouping of plumeria bushes.

Brad leans against the side of the building, his tattoos moving as his biceps flex. “When do you two head home?”

“Tomorrow morning,” I say, sliding my key card into the door, my stomach a little nervous for what’s happening.

Does he want to come in? Do I want him to? I could use the distraction. Then again, Kemp kind of threw me off. Maybe it’s best if I just let Brad go back to his room for the night while I go in and try to figure why Kemp just happens to be here… in the same location as me, three thousand miles from home.

Reasoning sounds good, but slides in one ear and out the other as my lips begin to move. “You? When do you guys take off?”

Brad looks away, then back again, and I get the feeling he doesn’t want to tell me. “Technically, we leave here tomorrow morning, but we’re just going to a barrier island for a few weeks.”

I nod, and slide one foot through the doorway, jamming the door so it doesn’t close. “You guys are living it up,” I say. “You must do well for yourselves.”

He shrugs. “We do okay, but this is—”

“Is this the thing I wouldn’t believe?”

He nods. “Sort of, but I should get out of your hair. You’ve had a long day and—”

“I could use some company if you’re free,” I say as I push the door open and step inside, holding it wide for him if he wants to come in. “I think I have some rum to finish before the flight tomorrow. It’ll cost more to ship it back.”

He throws his hand over his stomach and twists toward the door. “Ah, I don’t know if I can take anymore rum, but I could keep you company for a while.”

He steps inside the room and I close the door behind him, tiny white leaves from the plumeria bush following him inside.

“This is a pretty nice place,” he says. “You guys must’ve paid top dollar. What did you say you do again?”

My face turns pink. I’ve only just met this guy. I don’t want him to already know that I’m financially unresponsible, that I technically spent my last bit of money to come to Antigua, then spent the very, very, last bit I had on a room upgrade.

“I’m a nurse,” I say, avoiding the subject all together. “Well, technically I’m almost a college graduate. Well, I was almost a college graduate until… I was doing an internship for a clinic.” I turn away from him to sit on the edge of the bed and look out into the dark night. “I don’t think it’s going to work out, nursing I mean.”

“Why do you say that?” he asks, joining me at the edge of the mattress. “You seem like you’d be good at helping people.”

I want to tell him every dirty detail, spill my story for him to soak up and make me better, but what good will that do? We are going to only have this one night.

“I’m not as good at helping people as you think,” I say, keeping things topical. “I’m actually really bad at it.”

“How so? It looks like Margo counts on you quite a bit. That says a lot.”

I smile, stand from the bed, and move in front of the window. “Margo and I have been friends forever. She doesn’t know any better. Believe me… I’m toxic. I have the dysfunctional mother to prove it.”

“Ah,” he says, standing from the bed, to meet me at my side. “What is it? Drugs? Alcohol? Dealer boyfriend? My dad was the deadbeat, left when I was a kid.”

I turn towards him, and for a second, I feel my heart expand as though it wants me to open up.

“She’s got this new boyfriend. Whenever she gets a new one, the world changes, everything becomes about him, and what he wants. And this one, doesn’t give two fucks if I don’t have a job or a place to live. He wants me out.”

“Man, that’s tough,” Brad says, his eyes soft with concern. “You have a plan for when you get back?”

I shrug. “Just taking it a day at a time.” My gaze is fixed on his, though I’m only thinking about what the hell I’m going to do when I get home. Rent is crazy expensive, everyone I know is moving on with life, and school is a bust.

“Honestly, I just want to forget about it all tonight and pretend like I’m a rich person who can afford this nice room at this fancy resort.”

“I get it,” he says, wandering toward me. “So… what would a rich person do on their last night of vacation?”

I smile, and look toward him, watching as his muscles flex beneath his t-shirt. He’s handsome as hell, and super sweet, but that’s not usually my type, so I’m not sure how to approach him.

“I don’t know,” I say, lowering my gaze. “Maybe a rich person would do this.” I wrap my arms around his neck and lean into his lips, kissing him softly, praying he doesn’t reject me. I’m not sure my ego can take the shot.

---